7xm site LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Minorities Ramesh Singh Arora on Sunday highlighted the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring the constitutional protection of minorities on Sunday, emphasising efforts to create an inclusive society with equal opportunities and rights for all citizens, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. In this regard, Arora announced the upcoming launch of Minority Cards aimed at uplifting religious minorities during a seminar on “Minorities’ Rights & Constitutional Protection” held at the Renewal Centre Auditorium in Youhanabad. The event gathered a diverse group of participants including Parliamentary Secretary of HR&MA Sonia Asher, former Minister Ejaz Alam Augustine, government officials, religious leaders, and representatives from various minority communities. The seminar provided a crucial platform for discussing the protection of minority rights under the Constitution of Pakistan and raising awareness about the importance of safeguarding these rights in today’s social and political landscape. In his keynote address, Arora shared that the Minority Affairs Department is preparing a five-year strategic plan, marking the first-ever provincial department to develop such a comprehensive roadmap. Peter Jacob, Executive Director of Search for Justice, delivered the welcome speech at the seminar, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and cooperation between the government, civil society, and religious communities. He highlighted that such forums are essential for advancing the cause of minority rights and fostering understanding among diverse groups. Parliamentary Secretary Sonia Asher also spoke about the collaborative efforts between the government and religious communities to address the challenges faced by minorities, expressing the government’s ongoing determination to ensure their protection and empowerment. Former Minister Ejaz Alam Augustine recognized the positive steps being taken through the seminar to address issues facing religious minorities. He noted that the discussions and constructive conversations would help strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks for protecting minority rights. He also reiterated the importance of interfaith dialogue, mutual respect for diversity, and the collective responsibility to ensure that Pakistan remains a nation where the rights of all its citizens are respected and upheld. The seminar concluded with insightful presentations from various religious minority representatives, who shared their perspectives on the challenges their communities face, as well as potential solutions for ensuring greater protection and inclusion. A memorial shield was presented to Minister Ramesh Singh Arora and other distinguished guests in recognition of their valuable contributions towards the protection and advancement of minority rights. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Belgium: Arokodare delighted to score for Genk on birthday

None

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) CEO Sells $2,689,601.40 in StockAfter starting 2-0 in its inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference schedule, SMU looks to make the month even more special on Sunday, hosting Longwood in Dallas, Texas. The Mustangs seek a seven-game win streak in their final nonconference test before welcoming No. 4 Duke to Dallas on Jan. 4. In recent victories over Alabama State, Virginia, LSU, and Boston College, SMU (10-2) averaged 85.3 points per game, allowed just 66.0 ppg, and climbed to No. 30 in the NET rankings. "We're a different team right now than we were earlier in the season," SMU head coach Andy Enfield said at the beginning of December, his words ringing even truer as the season progresses. "They'd never been under pressure together until recently, so they're starting to learn and figure things out." Longwood (11-3) enters its third consecutive road game, having won five of its last six overall. That includes a major 82-67 win at North Carolina Central on Dec. 20. It was only the sixth nonconference home loss for NCC since 2016, and Longwood head coach Griff Aldrich saw it as a result of his team's growing cohesiveness. "We got great contributions from so many players," Aldrich said. "We have been working to play more and more connected, and this team has really taken positive steps this week." The Mustangs' Matt Cross is among the biggest threats to Longwood's defense, which allows just 66.6 points per game. A 6-foot-7 forward, Cross had 36 points over SMU's last two wins, including a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double against LSU. What Cross does with the ball in his hands is impressive -- he is averaging 13.5 ppg in December -- but it is also what he does off the ball that increases his value. "He's extremely tough," Enfield said after Cross' performance against LSU. "His wall up in transition, where (Corey) Chest came down, was going to dunk the ball, and he stood there and took the contact. ...That's a big-time basketball play." Longwood is paced by Michael Christmas, a veteran forward in his fourth year in the program. A hard-nosed wing who can score at all three levels, Christmas is Longwood's only returner who started at least 30 games on last year's NCAA Tournament team. He is averaging a team-high 11.9 points per game. "(He) loves this university, loves this town and community," Aldrich said of Christmas. "He opted to come back here to really invest in the program." --Field Level Media

Arsenal defender Gabriel kept Viktor Gyokeres quiet — then had the audacity to steal the in-demand Sporting Lisbon striker's trademark goal celebration. After heading in Arsenal's third first-half goal in the Champions League on Tuesday, Gabriel linked the fingers of his hands and placed them over his eyes, before laughing with his teammates. It was most likely a dig at Gyokeres, the Sweden striker who has quickly become one of European soccer's hottest properties . Because that is how Gyokeres celebrates his goals. “It's fun that he likes my celebration,” Gyokeres told Viaplay after the match. “He can steal it if he cannot come up with his own.” Gyokeres has scored 24 goals for Sporting in all competitions and was coming off netting four for Sweden in a Nations League match against Azerbaijan. Earlier in the first half, Gabriel had enjoyed tackling and dispossessing Gyokeres near the Arsenal area — waving both his arms in a gesture to the crowd. Gabriel's goal made it 3-0 to Arsenal at halftime and the English team went on to win 5-1, with Gyokeres failing to score. He did hit the post with a shot late in the game, however — after Gabriel had gone off with an injury. “Today he wasn't that dangerous,” Arsenal striker Kai Havertz said of Gyokeres, “but I think it's because we defended very well.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerNone

Robinson has 15 in Delaware State's 80-77 win against Loyola

Down 29%: Buy this cheap ASX stock for a 10% dividend yield - The Motley Fool Australia

An on-field interaction between a UW-Madison Police officer and a Nebraska football assistant coach after Saturday's game was a "misunderstanding" that ended in an apology, a police spokesperson said. Lt. Adam Boardman, one of the UWPD officers escorting University of Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell to the locker room amid fans rushing the field after a 44-25 Huskers victory, turned away to grab Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola by the arm, video posted to social media showed. That followed an apparent exchange of words between Raiola and Fickell and Badgers assistant offensive line coach Casey Rabach, who were walking in opposite directions. The context of the discussion wasn't apparent from the video, but Fickell and Raiola both pointed at the other, and Rabach later pointed at Raiola. People are also reading... Rest assured, Nebraska volleyball fans: The missing fan behind the servers will be back Saturday Matt Rhule, Luke Fickell both downplay postgame encounter between Fickell, Donovan Raiola Arrest made in 55-year-old cold case of Nebraska teen stabbed to death 'Bocephus' is back: Hank Williams Jr. to play Lincoln arena Friday Signing Day: Meet Nebraska volleyball's five-player 2025 class Amie Just: Bring out the tissues — and the brooms — for Nebraska volleyball's emotional win Cover Five: With pressure rising, Matt Rhule delivers Nebraska a bowl bid in Year 2 Wind-aided fire destroys vacant Village Inn in Lincoln Sound waves: What others are saying about Nebraska's win against Wisconsin Nebraska GOP to seek hard-right social policies in 2025 legislative session UNO freezes funds for LGBTQ+, multicultural, other student groups after audit Amie Just: Ahead of milestone birthday, local sports figures give advice on turning 30 Mountain lion spotted on trail camera east of Bennet, Sheriff's Office says As Nebraska's Democratic Party shrinks, some former party officials call for change Matt Rhule reacts to no-call at end of Nebraska-USC game: "I don’t know what else to say" Boardman and Raiola talked for about 15 seconds after Boardman pried Raiola away from a hug with Nebraska running backs coach EJ Barthel. UWPD spokesperson Marc Lovicott said it was a "misunderstanding amid a pretty chaotic scene." He said Boardman made contact with an "unknown individual who had approached" Badgers coaches as they were leaving the field. "Once it was confirmed that the individual was a member of the Nebraska coaching staff, the UWPD officer apologized for the misunderstanding," Lovicott wrote in an email Tuesday. "The interaction concluded cordially with a handshake." Lovicott said UW Police has made contact with counterparts at Nebraska "and they're also considering it a misunderstanding." Raiola played for Wisconsin from 2002 to 2005. "I don't want speculate without knowing, obviously Donny went to Wisconsin, so I don't know if there was some history there with somebody or something," said Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, who said he was shown video of the incident Monday. "When I asked Donny about it, he was like, 'No big deal.' Things happen after games and people are emotional, but he seemed to kinda brush it off." Fickell said he didn't know much about the interaction when he was asked about it at his weekly news conference Monday. "I mean, I don't know if he was talking to Casey, somebody said something, I don't know," Fickell said. "I just said it looked like maybe he said something to me, but I had no idea. And I had no idea that that was even something. So if it was, I didn't spend a whole lot of time thinking about it." — Lincoln Journal Star reporter Luke Mullin contributed to this report.Spurs travel to Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday reeling from a disappointing home loss to Ipswich before the international break. The club’s problems have multiplied during the past fortnight with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur handed a seven-match domestic ban on Monday and Cristian Romero (toe) joining a lengthy list of absentees. However, Postecoglou remains bullish about Tottenham’s progress and acutely aware of the scrutiny set to come his way if they stay 10th. “Christmas is a joyous occasion, irrespective, and I think it should be celebrated. If we’re still 10th then people won’t be happy, I won’t be happy, but we might not be 10th,” Postecoglou pointed out before nine games in 30 days. “Certainly for us I think it’s a significant period because you look at those games and we’ve got the league where we’ve got to improve our position and a couple of important European fixtures that can set us up for the back half of the year, also a Carabao Cup quarter-final. “At the end of that period we could be in a decent position for a strong second half of the year, so for us it is an important period. “You know there’s no more international breaks, so the full focus is here. You can build some momentum through that, or if things don’t go well you could get yourself into a bit of a grind. Ready for 👊 Go behind the scenes of training ahead of our trip to Manchester 🎥⤵️ — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) “Of course if we had beaten Ipswich, we’d be third and I reckon this press conference would be much different wouldn’t it? “I’m not going to let my life be dictated by one result, I’m sorry. I take a wider perspective on these things because I know how fickle it can be, but we need to address our position for sure. “And if we’re 10th at Christmas, yeah it won’t be great. There’d be a lot of scrutiny and probably a lot of scrutiny around me, which is fair enough, but that’s not where I plan for us to be.” Tottenham’s immediate efforts to move up the table will require them ending City’s two-year unbeaten home run in the Premier League. The champions have lost their last four matches in all competitions, but have some key personnel back for Saturday’s clash and will aim to toast Pep Guardiola’s new contract with a victory. Postecoglou was pleased to see Guardiola commit to a further two seasons in England, adding: “I love the fact that there’s a massive target out there that can seem insurmountable. “I look at it the other way. I go, ‘imagine if you knock him off, that’d be something’. “I’m at the stage of my life where I’d rather have the chance of knocking him off than missing that opportunity. “When greatness is around, you want to be around it. And hopefully it challenges you to be like that as well.” Saturday’s fixture will be Postecoglou’s 50th league game in charge of Spurs and he knows what is required to bring up three figures. “No European football, significant player turnover, change of playing style. Where did I think we’d be after 50 games? God knows. “It could have been a whole lot worse, but when you look at it in the current prism of we’re 10th, you’re going ‘it doesn’t look good’ and I understand that and we have to improve that. “But over the 50 games, I think there’s enough there that shows we are progressing as a team and we are developing into the team we want. “The key is the next 50 games, if they can be in totality better than the first 50? First, that means I’m here but second, I think we’ll be in a good space.”

LA Galaxy Strike Early, Hold off New York Red Bulls 2-1 to Win Their Record 6th MLS Cup Championship

Spurs travel to Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday reeling from a disappointing home loss to Ipswich before the international break. The club’s problems have multiplied during the past fortnight with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur handed a seven-match domestic ban on Monday and Cristian Romero (toe) joining a lengthy list of absentees. However, Postecoglou remains bullish about Tottenham’s progress and acutely aware of the scrutiny set to come his way if they stay 10th. “Christmas is a joyous occasion, irrespective, and I think it should be celebrated. If we’re still 10th then people won’t be happy, I won’t be happy, but we might not be 10th,” Postecoglou pointed out before nine games in 30 days. “Certainly for us I think it’s a significant period because you look at those games and we’ve got the league where we’ve got to improve our position and a couple of important European fixtures that can set us up for the back half of the year, also a Carabao Cup quarter-final. “At the end of that period we could be in a decent position for a strong second half of the year, so for us it is an important period. “You know there’s no more international breaks, so the full focus is here. You can build some momentum through that, or if things don’t go well you could get yourself into a bit of a grind. Ready for #MCITOT 👊 Go behind the scenes of training ahead of our trip to Manchester 🎥⤵️ pic.twitter.com/4jFZTCIwSz — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 22, 2024 “Of course if we had beaten Ipswich, we’d be third and I reckon this press conference would be much different wouldn’t it? “I’m not going to let my life be dictated by one result, I’m sorry. I take a wider perspective on these things because I know how fickle it can be, but we need to address our position for sure. “And if we’re 10th at Christmas, yeah it won’t be great. There’d be a lot of scrutiny and probably a lot of scrutiny around me, which is fair enough, but that’s not where I plan for us to be.” Tottenham’s immediate efforts to move up the table will require them ending City’s two-year unbeaten home run in the Premier League. The champions have lost their last four matches in all competitions, but have some key personnel back for Saturday’s clash and will aim to toast Pep Guardiola’s new contract with a victory. Postecoglou was pleased to see Guardiola commit to a further two seasons in England, adding: “I love the fact that there’s a massive target out there that can seem insurmountable. “I look at it the other way. I go, ‘imagine if you knock him off, that’d be something’. “I’m at the stage of my life where I’d rather have the chance of knocking him off than missing that opportunity. “When greatness is around, you want to be around it. And hopefully it challenges you to be like that as well.” Saturday’s fixture will be Postecoglou’s 50th league game in charge of Spurs and he knows what is required to bring up three figures. A post shared by Premier League (@premierleague) “No European football, significant player turnover, change of playing style. Where did I think we’d be after 50 games? God knows. “It could have been a whole lot worse, but when you look at it in the current prism of we’re 10th, you’re going ‘it doesn’t look good’ and I understand that and we have to improve that. “But over the 50 games, I think there’s enough there that shows we are progressing as a team and we are developing into the team we want. “The key is the next 50 games, if they can be in totality better than the first 50? First, that means I’m here but second, I think we’ll be in a good space.”Sean Dyche is hopeful Armando Broja is close to his Everton debut, with the club hoping to fast-track the on-loan Chelsea forward’s return from injury. Broja joined Everton late on deadline day but has not played since an achilles injury in pre-season that scuppered a proposed move to Ipswich . The 23-year-old remains unavailable for Saturday’s home game against Brentford but could feature in matches for the under-21s as he rebuilds fitness. The Everton manager said: “He has done enough with us here and we cannot really replicate the feeling of games, so I would prefer him for the 21s because it at least feels like a game. We are just discussing the next steps now. He has had a really strong week and a really strong rehab, so hopefully that allows us to fast‐track it a bit more than we normally would.” Everton have an option to sign Broja on a permanent deal next summer and are in urgent need of more firepower. Dyche hopes the Albania international and Youssef Chermiti, another striker who has not featured this season owing to injury, will be available to address that problem before Christmas. “We might get in front of that,” he said. “We will have to wait and see. It hasn’t been tough to be patient with him because you have no choice. Some type of injuries you think: ‘Come on, really?’ But with this we had to be careful because it was a tendon injury.” Everton’s prospective new owner, the Friedkin Group, is awaiting ­Premier League approval on its bid to buy out Farhad Moshiri. Dyche says funds for reinforcements in the January window will probably remain tight unless that deal goes through before it opens. “There is no news,” he said on the takeover. “So we are working to the current situation of the club which is being very, very sensible financially. If the Friedkin Group do get their hands on the club and get it done then things might change. But at the minute we are working to the guidelines that were there before.”

LA Galaxy strike early, hold off New York Red Bulls 2-1 to win their record 6th MLS Cup championshipLove Island's Millie Court recounted a frightening encounter while on holiday in Australia with her boyfriend Liam Reardon. The 28 year old reality TV star revealed she was stung by a jellyfish, also known as a bluebottle, while swimming in the sea despite warning signs on the beach. Millie posted footage of the jellyfish and her subsequent rash on social media, sharing: "Goes into sea to get taken out by a huge wave, come up above water to find a blue jellyfish wrapped round my neck, in my hair, tentacles all round my stomach. I've never screamed so loud." She took responsibility for the incident, stating: "It's my own fault." Following the lifeguards' advice, Millie took a hot shower and applied ice to numb the pain, noting the rash would be itchy for about an hour. Read more Janette Manrara shares plans to expand family with Aljaz Skorjanec after 'tough loss' The influencer preemptively addressed potential criticism, insisting: "And before you say 'why on earth would you go in the sea then', there's so many people in there that were also unfazed and the lifeguards don't tell you to not go in so we thought, 'f*** it, it'll be fine'." Millie has been enjoying the festive season in Sydney with Liam and her friend Chloe Burrows, a fellow Love Island contestant, reports the Mirror . Before the mishap, Millie kept her followers envious with updates from their opulent beachside Christmas celebrations in Sydney. On social media, she expressed, "MERRY CHRISTMAS all the way from Sydney, Australia. It's now actually Boxing Day for us but we had the BEST time spending the day on the beach with all our friends. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year." The loved-up pair who triumphed in the 2021 series of the ITV2 show moved into a swanky £1 million mansion in Essex. Fans were taken aback when the couple split in 2022, but they soon rekindled their romance. Despite living apart, with Millie in Essex and Liam in Wales, the distance has only strengthened their bond. While Millie eagerly anticipates a proposal from Liam, she hasn't been shy about hinting at her perfect engagement scenario and dream ring style, as per her recent chat with MailOnline: "Not that it means he'll do it any time soon but I thought better he knows now so when he does decide to, in the future, he knows what ring I like. He also knows what I would like proposal-wise as well, so where it would be and stuff," she disclosed.

Trump isn’t back in office but he’s already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leadersTrump Jr helps pick most controversial cabinet

Federal police in Brazil have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro of orchestrating a coup to overturn the 2022 election results. The accusations, filed with the Supreme Court, conclude a two-year investigation into Bolsonaro's involvement in the election-denying movement, which led to riots in Brasilia in January 2023. Investigators found that Bolsonaro and his aides were aware of plans to disrupt the democratic process. The accusations include spreading election misinformation, inciting military participation, and supporting violent actions. Police arrested several conspirators allegedly plotting to assassinate President Lula da Silva before he took office. Bolsonaro, via social media, dismissed the accusations as unfounded, while his lawyer plans to review the report. The court is set to forward the police findings to the prosecutor general, who will decide on potential charges against Bolsonaro and his associates. (With inputs from agencies.)